We currently have a vacancy for a Qualitative Research Exec in our Leeds Office. 

We're looking for a qual leaning graduate research exec to join the team and learn the ropes in all things qual! At Spark we're looking for someone with the right attitude and personality to become a fully-fledged quallie. This needs to be someone who is conscientious, well organised and a self-starter with plenty of initiative. 

What is a qualitative researcher? 

A quallie is someone who gets to talk to people for a living, understand what makes them tick, why they make the decisions they make (both consciously and subconsciously) and understand their attitudes and opinions on a range of subjects. We then turn all of those conversations into insights, picking up seemingly separate comments and turning them into themes and strands of information, all coming together to tell an insight-based story for our clients. 

Clients then use this to inform better decision making about their brand, products and services, as well as using insight to improve their customer experience. 

A quallie gets to use a wide range of tools and techniques as well as get involved in methodologies like depth interviews, focus groups, shopalongs and customer communities.  A great quallie is also someone who can join the dots between conversations, picking out commonalities and differences and using that to deliver fresh insight.  Also someone who can listen while coming up with the next question, adapt to a conversation as information comes up, question and clarify, as well as make the participant feel comfortable and provide a safe space for honest insight - this takes time to master but the successful candidate will get hands on experience across all aspects of qual. 

You'll receive a range of on the job and formal training in this role.  

What does the role involve? 

• As a qual research exec you focus on supporting senior team members with the day-to-day delivery of specific project deliverables across all aspects of qual & community projects. 
• As a central member of the Spark team you maintain strong working relationships with Sparkies and suppliers to ensure the smooth delivery of fieldwork from set up to completion. 
• You have a key focus on quality standards, reducing errors and repeats, as well as keeping things moving on time and to a high standard. 
• You play a proactive role in throwing yourself into learning as much as you can about research and making suggestions for better ways of working and new solutions. 
• You'll be a key cog in making sure that research runs smoothly! Supporting the team to coordinate recruitment of participants - making sure the right person meets the right Spark moderator at the right time, as well as ensuring we have their consent to participate in the research.
• Observing and note taking on qualitative interviews and focus groups - getting involved in the moderation and management over time 
• Managing online communities - making sure that participants are briefed, reminded of their tasks and encouraged to complete them on time and to a high quality 
• Working closely with the team on analysis - teasing out the insights and getting involved in preparing the debrief 
• Supporting the team to gather stimulus, sign off discussion guides and get everything set up ready to go  
• Working with suppliers, partners and clients to make sure everything runs smoothly across all qual projects 

There is also the need to be flexible and adaptable! No day is the same in research as we work on the most appropriate methodology to meet the needs of the project. We also try to meet our participants when it suits them best and when they are most relaxed - this role typically involves working a couple of later nights per week to facilitate and moderate evening focus groups, as well as travel to meet participants in their homes / viewing facilities / retail outlets. This is supported by flexible working to balance this.

The things we are looking for throughout the application process are:

• A keen interest in market research
• Someone who is highly organised and proactive and not afraid to ask questions
• Previous experience of qualitative research in their university degree
• Ideally some work experience (doesn't need to be in a research role)
• Someone who naturally embodies our values
• Someone who is keen to learn and grow and contribute to our culture
• Displays strong commercial thinking

What are we offering? 

The salary range for this role is £23,000 - £27,000 and this is dependent on skills and experience. 

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
• 3 additional days celebration leave
• 9 day fortnight - we are closed every 2nd Friday
• Flexible & Hybrid working
• 4% pension contribution
• Life Assurance
• Income protection
• Wellbeing support and access to our EAP
• Reward and Recognition schemes

Spark is part of Audience Collective, a group of agencies that work collaboratively to ensure better results for our clients.  Spark has offices in Dublin and Leeds and within the group we have: 

• Ponderosa - A digital-inspired brand communications agency.  
• Crunch – Recruitment Media buyers. 
• RICH – a specialist SEO agency 
• AdGen – a specialist Student media agency 
• Spark – Us!! A full service market research agency.  

Here at AC, we understand that diversity is an important part of a truly inclusive community, and it’s something we're committed to as an organisation. We welcome applications from candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds.  

The most important thing is that our people live our values - bold, commercial, collaborative, curious and engaging. 

We accept that not all applicants are able to meet all requirements of the role and therefore we consider applications based on merit and experience. We are happy to discuss your application and to assist you through the process. If you have any questions about any advertised role and how we can support you, please contact us. 

We may start interviewing for this role before the closing date so please don't hesitate to submit your application. And if you have any questions then please get in touch!